The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2003
Norimasa Sohmiya, Saitama, JP;
Koji Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Hideaki Mochimaru, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoki Iwata, Saitama, JP;
Kunihiko Tomita, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yokoyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Shigeru Watanabe, Kanagawa, JP;
Chiemi Kaneko, Ibaraki, JP;
Yasukuni Omata, Kanagawa, JP;
Hisao Murayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Norimasa Sohmiya, Saitama, JP;
Koji Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Hideaki Mochimaru, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoki Iwata, Saitama, JP;
Kunihiko Tomita, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yokoyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Shigeru Watanabe, Kanagawa, JP;
Chiemi Kaneko, Ibaraki, JP;
Yasukuni Omata, Kanagawa, JP;
Hisao Murayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first and a second intermediate image transfer belt contacting each other to form a nip for secondary image transfer. While the nip is heated, a sheet is passed through the nip to thereby transfer toner images respectively formed on the first and second belts to opposite surfaces of the sheet at the same time. The nip is sized such that image transfer and fixation can be effected at temperature higher than the melting point or the softening point of toner by 5° C. to 50° C.